Cable news replayed the clip of Rubio sipping water more than 200 times yesterday

posted at 10:41 am on February 14, 2013 by Allahpundit

Say thanks to Jeff Poor and the Daily Caller for enduring the Ludovico-ish process needed to tally these numbers. The “200 times” figure comes with an asterisk: Turns out Rachel Maddow alone accounted for more than half the replays by putting the clip of Rubio reaching for the water on a loop, tucked into a corner of the screen, for 13 minutes while she and Steve Kornacki were hashing out the particulars of his speech. (Seeing is believing.) Jon Stewart once chided her and MSNBC for beating the “teabagger” joke into the ground, but in hindsight he should be glad she never resorted to a push-button morning-zoo-style soundboard for the T-word. She’s always been touted as a more civil, substantive alternative to Olbermann, and in fairness this episode bears that out. If Olby were still on the air, he would have run the clip for the full hour.

At Mediaite, Joe Concha looks at the tone of the coverage across various networks and wonders how it’s come to this:

Since old, white, stuffy Mitt Romney’s defeat in November, the media has lectured us on what kind of candidate the GOP needs to produce, which actually sounds similar to a remedy for a struggling baseball team: Republicans need to get younger, more diverse, stronger up the middle.

So what happens when a respected 41-year-old Cuban-American Republican U.S. Senator is put on the national stage?

The media turns him into a punch line. And if you’re like most Americans too busy to devote hours of time to watch the State of the Union and its rebuttal, the news you got this morning portrayed Rubio as Cindy in the infamous spelling bee episode of the Brady Bunch (Cindy aces all tests in school until a red light on a camera during a televised contest freezes her beyond repair).

Poor impression made.

Mission accomplished.

What’s interesting about the Maddow segment is that she actually does engage with the specifics of Rubio’s speech yet still felt obliged to have the water clip running over and over onscreen, which ends up distracting from the commentary. But then, why limit yourself to convincing the viewer with your argument when you can condition them to view Rubio as a ridiculous figure with visual cues too? She might as well have skipped the clip and simply delivered her commentary over a flashing banner, “DO NOT TAKE MARCO RUBIO SERIOUSLY.”

If you exclude the 101 replays on Maddow’s show, you’re still at 100 replays for the day. On Fox, the clip ran an average of once every 90 minutes over 18 hours; on CNN a bit more than every 30 minutes, with Wolf Blitzer accounting for most of that; and on MSNBC, naturally, every 20 minutes. Here’s the guy whom MSNBC has airing at 6 p.m., the national news hour, predictably mispronouncing Rubio’s name and demonstrating that he still hasn’t learned that you don’t need to shout on a TV set the way you do on a theater stage to make your voice heard. Nice job by Reverend Al’s writers, though: This is, by current standards, legitimately SNL-quality comedy.

Blowback

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We shouldn’t call it the media anymore, because that assumes some modicum of journalism remains. Clearly it does not. I do think this is an effort to ‘Palinize’ Rubio, and it’s even sillier than what they did to her. Pathetic (but no surprise).

Ans why shouldn’t they do it?
.
Slathering the shallow brains of the legions of low information Julias with this BS gets them pulling the lever for community organizers and Democrat statist charlatans every time.

What does it say when a president gives a State of the Union and the only thing anyone seems to be talking about is Marco Rubio?

cpaulus on February 14, 2013 at 10:50 AM

That Rubio is newer, shinier, and more appealing than Obama. And that the Ds are scared to death of this guy. I don’t want to hand over the nuclear codes to him right now, but he has the potential to be very scary.

Oh I think Marco made more friends than he lost.

BTW, the Palinist’s heads are going to explode if you have another bottled water thread and ignore her Facebook speech that’s now over 24 hours old! You. Are. Sadists!

Well according to mainstream Republicans, Rubio is now done. He can’t win the presidency anymore. He is now a joke. Now get him off the stage. Once the media declares someone is a joke, that person is done.

That is the reason those “Insider the smart Republicans” told us why Sarah Palin should not run for president in 2012.

…the media has lectured us on what kind of candidate the GOP needs to produce, which actually sounds similar to a remedy for a struggling baseball team: Republicans need to get younger, more diverse, stronger up the middle.

Don’t you get it? For the media, there is NO candidate that the GOP can produce that they will not attempt to destroy unless that candidate is pro-abortion, pro-open borders, pro-nationalized health care, supports economy-wrecking climate change initiatives and is pro-gay marriage. In other words, a Democrat.

It won’t hurt him though. What did Palin in was the Katie Couric interview, the endless lies and smears from the Democrat/media complex, and McCain’s own campaign managers stabbing her in the back. So far Rubio has yet to be tripped up in any interview, so all he really needs to avoid is a false narrative from the left hurting his likeability(and no, sipping a water bottle during a speech doesn’t qualify) or the hiring of incompetent hacks like Schmidt or Wallace.

We shouldn’t call it the media anymore, because that assumes some modicum of journalism remains. Clearly it does not. I do think this is an effort to ‘Palinize’ Rubio, and it’s even sillier than what they did to her. Pathetic (but no surprise).

What does it say when a president gives a State of the Union and the only thing anyone seems to be talking about is _____ _____?

cpaulus on February 14, 2013 at 10:50 AM

Same thing it’s said every year of Barky’s illegitimate tenure. No one has ever bothered talking about Barky’s SOTU squealings afterwards, because they’re always worthless speeches. The only time anyone cares about what he said is to point out the stupid, nasty, or laughably incorrect things that have spilled out of his anti-American, anti-Western dog-hole for a prepared speech to the nation that hasn’t even been decent enough to merit a C in a 9th grade speech class (without the affirmative action credits, of course).

This is why our country and the MSM is in the gutter!! When they play more clips making fun of a Rubio drinking water than investigating what happen in Libya where 4 AMERICANS were killed it is just a crock of s**t. This is not journalism but a bunch of TV yahoos wantin to be the next Jerry Springer show!

The “Press” works for the Democrat party. Until we acknowledge that they act as operatives for the DNC first and reporters of the news second – and treat them that way, very publicly, they will not change.

A few years back ALL Democrats refused to do debates run by Fox. That was effective for them. Unless we play the game by the rules they are, we will alway lose.

Its amusing to see them fear Rubio. They can try their tricks, but IMO, Rubios got great political skills. Basically, it ain’t gonna work. Wish the pubs would take a page out of the dem playbook, and call all of them racists. Our refusal to do so just empowers them to take out the minorities in the pub domain. Shout long enough, and make them afraid to go after one of our minorities.

I don’t understand what the big deal is about drinking some water. Is this somehow bad for Rubio? I just don’t get it.

Dollayo on February 14, 2013 at 11:08 AM

Imagine you’re completely in the tank for Obama and the Democrat Party. Then imagine you believe it’s your responsibility to demonize and ridicule anyone from the opposite end of the political spectrum who poses a threat to your leftist ideology. Once you do that, stuff like “Watergate 2013″ makes perfect sense.

Rubio will benefit from this sort of coverage, because it diverts attention away from the fact that he is working closely with McCain, Graham, the Gang of 8, and obama, to push through ‘instant amnesty’ for illegals (something that Rubio carefully avoided mentioning in his SOTU “rebuttal”).

There is a big difference between an intensive 10 week demonizing campaign with the LIV’s paying attention in fits and starts and a 3+ year long haul with lot’s of shiny objects to distract the LIV’s in the meantime.

Doesn’t mean the Palinization won’t happen, but there’s time for damage control and counter-attack – if the will is there…

I agree with Joe Concha’s point except for the very end. I don’t think this qualifies as a bad first impression. The idiots in the media who are pushing this don’t care what kind of impression Rubio makes. The Narrative will still be the same. For everybody else, I think it’s not bad at all. In fact, I think if anything it helps him, especially since he’s been able to laugh along with everybody else.

The issue here is not the damage being done to Rubio. I don’t think there has been any damage. The issue is the continuing dumpster fire that is the media. It’s their credibility that is being undermined, again. And they have nobody but themselves to blame.

I can go to the supermarket right now, and most folk still do not know his name. Only the converteds watch the SOU anymore. It is basically used to seed political sound bites for future propaganda churning

BY working Rubio over on this, the MSM is carrying water for him, spreading his name.

This is not a net negative. This is how the MSM, and the RINOs tried to take down Reagan, by endlessly criticizing trivial faults: B-actor, the chimp, where’s my legs… The critiques made the public listen to Reagan, they took the criticisms as criticisms on common americans, identified, and so he won a huge following

Of course, Rubio’s words are not being criticized as much, because he took Obama’s side on amnesty. In once sense, you could say the RINOs cornered the PR market on this one

Rubio’s biggest problem is not the followers of Obama, it is the conservative base whom he finally disenchanted when he ‘came out’ for the McCain gang on amnesty. IMHO he had to go over the border at the SOU, because the planners wanted him to match Obama, illegal alien, for illegal alien. Rand Paul played Ron Paul, and covered for Rubio

Rubio will get the name recognition his planners want, and if anyone bothers, they will find out he is for amnesty. The water gag will make him more ‘real’. Politically, though, he did not lose

A man took a drink of water on national television. Over the next 24-48 hours, all the media can talk about is a man taking a drink of water on national television. America has officially jumped the shark.

You know what would be excellent? Rubio makes all the moves, all the noises like he’s running. Democrats get their narrative against him for 2016 sharpened to a fare-thee-well. Push polls and focus groups on every time Marco Rubio farts audibly in public to the cost of meeelyons and meeelyons of dollars:

October 2015, Rubio calls a press conference. At the press conference he says:

“A routine police patrol was parked outside a local neighborhood bar in Florida.

Late in the evening, the officer noticed a man leaving the bar so intoxicated that he could barely walk. The man stumbled around the parking lot for a few minutes with the officer quietly watching.

After what seemed an eternity and trying his keys on five different vehicles, the man managed to find his own car which he fell into. He was there for a few minutes as a number of other patrons left the bar and drove off. Finally, he started his car, switched the wipers on and off (it was a dry night), flicked the hazard flasher on and off, tooted the horn and then switched on the lights. He moved the vehicle forward a few inches, reversed a little and then remained stationary for a few more minutes as more patrons left in their vehicles.

At last he pulled out of the parking lot and started to drive slowly down the street.

The police officer having patiently waited all this time, now started up his patrol car, put on the flashing lights, promptly pulled the man over and carried out a breathalyser test.

To his amazement the breathalyser indicated no evidence that the man consumed alcohol at all!

Dumbfounded, the officer said ‘I’ll have to ask you to accompany me to the police station. This breathalyzer equipment must be broken.’

‘I doubt it,’ said the man. ‘Tonight I’m the designated decoy.’

Guess what, news media and Democrats. All the money you spent against me—I’m flattered, I really am. Especially considering I had no intention on running in the first place. Gee, I guess y’all will have to find out who the 2016 nominee is about the same time I do. Have a nice day!”

The issue here is not the damage being done to Rubio. I don’t think there has been any damage. The issue is the continuing dumpster fire that is the media. It’s their credibility that is being undermined, again. And they have nobody but themselves to blame.

cicerone on February 14, 2013 at 11:17 AM

Indeed. Think about it…we’re debating whether or not damage has been done to a guy over a televised sip of water. It’s insane. These people have way too much time on their hands, too much air to fill, when this is what it comes to.

If a potential candidate is disqualified four years out because he took a drink of water while giving a speech on television then we are no longer a serious nation of serious people. We are frivolous, absurd, and shallow and little more than an example of Orwellian idiocy, ignorance, stupidity, and authoritarianism. In the past our enemies called us decadent.

Considering all that is precisely what the US has become… Yes, it could be a career-ender.

In a nation that just re-elected Comrade Chairman Odumbo, the Socialist Boy King, who blames all problems on someone else, why yes it could be.

Recall he also has the 6000 year old earth question hung around his neck. There will be more. His is an Hispanic/Latino Republican with potential. He must be destroyed before he gets any further. It won’t be as easy as it was with Palin and Herman Caine, but it can and will be done.

We will know he has been Palinized when the Usual Suspects flood Hot Air and declare that the water gaffe (or insert non-existent gaffe here) is the latest in a long string of Rubio “gaffes” and that he has now been “destroyed” by the media and is “unelectable.”

We shouldn’t call it the media anymore, because that assumes some modicum of journalism remains. Clearly it does not. I do think this is an effort to ‘Palinize’ Rubio, and it’s even sillier than what they did to her. Pathetic (but no surprise).

So the MSN (a Dem house organ) has devolved to suggesting drinking water makes Rubio unqualified for political office. I’m not even sure how or why this is supposed to hurt him.

At this rate, my palm will be permanently attached to my face soon.

DRayRaven on February 14, 2013 at 11:43 AM

The Ds already had an epic fail on that front. They put out a picture of Rubio’s epic water break with the caption Thirsty for New Ideas? It made it look like Rubio was the one with the new ideas. He should really run with it.

In this case the “bad” is something we all do. We get thirsty and we want something to drink. So really the fact that Rubio got his name out there is not really a bad thing, because he connected with everyone with is “bad” thing.

The only mistake Rubio made was when he got the drink of water he should have said something funny at the time about it. The trouble is America is starving for unrehearsed speeches and moments. We have been bombarded by Obama, which is always rehearsed (teleprompter included)and frankly it is boring. Even Rubio’s speech (it was a good speech, but how many times have heard that speech) was like that until the water bottle appeared.

I think the reason Dr. Carson’s speech was so liked was it caught so many people off guard and how surprising it was. It was also free flowing, not stiff and politician like. The same goes for Christie (Pure RINO traitor that he is and may he never be president). His appeal to non informed voters is he does speaks like a regular guy. He does “dangerous”, politically speaking, things.

As long as you don’t say stupid and illogical dangerous things, like “you can’t get pregnant from rape because of mystical forces”, it is ok to stray off the confining reservation of speech writers and political handlers. They are part of the reasons America can’t face up to our problems.

The Palin folks expose themselves to be ill. Ms. Palin doesn’t even like your unhealthy obsession with her and has you on a ‘restraining order’. Even if one likes what she has to say you are sick puppies.

You know. the only reason they’re replaying the vid and running with the meme is to rile Conservatives. Why? Because they can, and because it’s fun for them to watch, so…don’t give them any motivation. Don’t discuss it. Drop it. Don’t show any visible anger. Don’t focus on their contrived game, and worse, don’t play along. This goes especially for the Breitbart crew and conservative media in general. Ridicule them, guffaw, shake your head in disbelief, then move on.

Now, the one who should be out there front and center engaging the media on this is Rubio himself, every time they bring it up in any upcoming interviews in the MSM.

He’s gotta be ready to joust and play their game. Don’t get me wrong, he handled the media okay, but he’s got to learn to do better–and quickly. I’m a very respectful agnostic to those of the Christian faith, but please, leave God out of the equation, look squarely into the camera (without reaching for the water bottle prop) and say, “Dude, I know you would rather talk about anything but the failed economic policies of the Obama admin and their inability to propose anything new or worthwhile, but please, on behalf of all serious and concerned Americans out there looking for answers, I ask that you not play childish partisan games in an attempt to mock the president’s political opposition. I implore you to do your job with the dignity and respect it deserves. Now, do you have a serious question or concern regarding the GOP’s proposals or do you want to have an in depth discussion on the art of drinking water while our nation crumbles under the weight of debt and joblessness courtesy of this administration, which you appear to protect? Because I’d love to have that discussion off screen, maybe over lunch, to satisfy your unquenchable preoccupation with frivolity. I have more respect for the intelligence of my fellow Americans, and I’m disappointed that you don’t appear to share that respect. ”

End of story. Get a clue GOP. This goes for any potential future candidate of ours, whether you like his/her positions or not.